Jackie and Brendan Breslin had been seeking out locations for their brewery, Wishful Thinking Brewing Co., for two and a half years when their friend Sam Masotto, owner of Bonn Place Brewing, threw out the idea of renting the building he purchased back in 2018, which had previously been operating as the Bavarian Tavern. “He had put a ton of work into the building, and the space was really move-in ready. We had always admired the space and the work he'd done, but had not quite anticipated taking over any of it ourselves. When the idea entered the conversation, though, we quickly knew it was the right location for Wishful Thinking Brewing,” they say. “The space itself is incredible. It gives a modern feel to an old-school tavern. We want to bring a European-inspired flair to our beers that are crafted from local agriculture; we think the space mimics that.” When they decided to take the leap, Jackie and Brendan had also been operating a mobile pizza business, Pizza Post Co., for a year and had been popping up weekly at Bonn Place Brewing, among others, serving their Detroit-style pies from the parking lot. “We became pretty well known and appreciated in a relatively short time, so anyone who's had our pies will be happy to hear that they are going to be the main offering at Wishful Thinking's taproom,” they say. “Our pies are eight-by-ten-inch pan pizzas with a super crunchy, cheesy crust.” The beer menu will primarily consist of pale lagers and IPAs, with other drinkable styles such as blonde ales and sours also incorporated.
702 Broadway, Bethlehem | wishfulthinkingbeer.com
Published as “Trending Now” in the April 2024 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
